Magoo's point about the Metropolitian being an " up market girls shopping trolley" is interesting as that is pretty much a key market for both the BMW Mini and the new Fiat 500.oBTW Edward Quinn was a famous 1950's photographer on the French Riveria- he did a " cars and stars" photo essay but I personally prefer this bok

It has two classic images among many - Alain Delon and Jane Fonda in a Monaco reg. Ferrari spyder and Sophia Loren in an Alfa coupe complete with classy leather luggage in the back. - i suspect neither was spontaneous but very classy images

The obsession with the latest registration plate date, the success of those marketing deals where you lease a new car for a deposit plus a few hundred a month and then give the car back at the end of two years, the collapse in the price of a car at the end of it's warranty period.......

The obsession with the latest registration plate date, the success of those marketing deals where you lease a new car for a deposit plus a few hundred a month and then give the car back at the end of two years, the collapse in the price of a car at the end of it's warranty period.......

In other words; doesnt't matter what or how, as long as it is new.

Havent those deals disapeared there? Have here, the guaranteed by back sold plenty of new cars, but 2 years later killed the same dealers [and their manufacturers] as they were paying retail plus for used cars. Worse the new car managers told them that is exactly waht would happen.As for build date the reason the 2012 ID plate stock clearance happens every year is that the 2013 plated cars will have higher resale 2-3 years down the track. Though then a 'sub model' eg an update of the current model will make the older version worth less too. And that even when they are 10-15 years old. Usually very monor engineering updates and new trim pattern etc.Car buyers can be a funny species! Buy the seat trim, a defenitly the sound system in preference to buying a good car.When they get older however sometimes the original one then comes to the fore, they just have to be 25-30 years old. And not have been converted to scrap metal ofcourse!

Microcars went for major money at the Weiner Museum sale conducted by RM Auctions last weekend, with the top car bringing $322,000 and 12 lots in the six-figure range. This is an entirely different and fascinating world of cars, check them out. LINK:

That would be one of the most interesting features you've had at the garage. I just love seeing designers looking outside the box - then actually getting to production - sometimes with things that hardly make sense! The percentage of three wheel solutions is interesting too - lots of advantages if you don't mind the one major downside.

That would be one of the most interesting features you've had at the garage. I just love seeing designers looking outside the box - then actually getting to production - sometimes with things that hardly make sense! The percentage of three wheel solutions is interesting too - lots of advantages if you don't mind the one major downside.

They're fascinating, aren't they?

If I were doing a modern-day microcar I would take a hard look at the 2/1 trike Messerschmitt config. Wide front track, small dia. front wheels, narrow cabin for minimum frontal area. Motorcycle power egg and swing arm.

Microcars went for major money at the Weiner Museum sale conducted by RM Auctions last weekend, with the top car bringing $322,000 and 12 lots in the six-figure range. This is an entirely different and fascinating world of cars, check them out. LINK:

Where did they find all the buyers? To me those cars all mad about 90% more than they were worth. Motoring eccentricity!And the Goggo Dart only made $54500, and was probably the most practical of the lot, but very impractical.These all make Nash metropolitans mainstream!!

The museum was up for sale recently but I dont think that included the cars.

We paid $5 each to go in - I never dreamt I was looking at a $M plus collection!

Interestingly the McLaren group have now valued their collection of cars at around $150M in their balance sheet. Probably conservative based on the microcars but useful back up if the MB engines disappear one day!

A friend of mine in schooldays had a Messerschmittt three wheeler - it had two contact breakers so you got reverse by starting the two stoke " backwards" - all four gears available going backwards with handlebar steering - interesting

The museum was up for sale recently but I dont think that included the cars.

We paid $5 each to go in - I never dreamt I was looking at a $M plus collection!

Interestingly the McLaren group have now valued their collection of cars at around $150M in their balance sheet. Probably conservative based on the microcars but useful back up if the MB engines disappear one day!

A friend of mine in schooldays had a Messerschmittt three wheeler - it had two contact breakers so you got reverse by starting the two stoke " backwards" - all four gears available going backwards with handlebar steering - interesting

Insiders tell me that the cars in this sale were very rare and exceptional examples, creating some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for microcar collectors, and thus some once-in-a-lifetime prices. Also, I understand a good portion of the cars went to a single collector in Russia. That said, I think the sale indicates the presence of a new collector niche -- one that wasn't fully recognized before because these weren't considered "real" cars. Car enthusiasts looked down the nose at these cars when they were new, and for some time to follow. Now we have a new generation of collectors that finds these vehicles interesting and attractive.

Motor City Garage will have complete coverage of the Detroit Autorama this coming weekend, including Great 8 and Ridler winners reported live as they are announced. Be sure to sign on to the MCG twitter feed so you can get results in real time.

Here's the kickoff preview featuring last year's Great 8 and Ridler winners, LINK:

... I think the sale indicates the presence of a new collector niche -- one that wasn't fully recognized before because these weren't considered "real" cars.

There has been a steady climb in the price of bubble cars, with rarer versions, like the Messerschmitt Tiger, with four - yes, four - wheels, commanding big numbers for some time. My own Heinkel was sold some years ago, as being screwed by a local body shop made the complete reconditioning financially unviable.

There has been a steady climb in the price of bubble cars, with rarer versions, like the Messerschmitt Tiger, with four - yes, four - wheels, commanding big numbers for some time. My own Heinkel was sold some years ago, as being screwed by a local body shop made the complete reconditioning financially unviable.

I can't say I totally understand $322K USD for a microcar, or some of the other six-figure prices, but I totally get how people would find these cars interesting and collectible. Their styling and engineering are completely engaging.

This is the Ford test track in Dearborn, Michigan, which is historically interesting in that it was originally Ford Airport, one of the first modern air fields in the world, with two concrete runways and a dirigible mast. Opened in 1924, it was also the home of the Stout and then Ford aircraft plants. The Dearborn Inn, just across Oakwood Boulevard to the west, was originally built to service the airport but is still in business today, and is a first-rate establishment btw. Ford Airport was operational through WWII, then gradually converted into a vehicle proving ground. The passenger terminal was torn down decades ago, but several of the original aircraft company buildings along Oakwood Blvd. are still in use today, one of them as an experimental engines lab. Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum are just visible at the upper left corner of the aerial photo. Also, there is a rather distinctive and stylish wall that encircles the airport/test track, which is officially known at Ford as the Dearborn Development Center. A few years ago the facility was completely renovated. Much of Ford engineering is based in the buildings along Rotunda Drive across the bottom of the photo, though Ford Racing is in another complex down the street.

Okay, finally got around to this topic -- story with rare photos of Mr. Ford's airport

Once again I am mining all the great topics previously explored in this forum and recycling them for the website. This story is a revisit of the circa 1905 San Francisco street film we had so much fun with... except this film is 1935, Wilshire Boulevard In Beverly Hills, CA.

Evidently this film was originally shot as rear projection stock footage for the Hollywood movies but at any rate, there's a lot of interesting stuff going on. Check out the big old Rolls-Royce Sedan early in the sequence. How many vehicles can you identify?

Just for fun, the cars and bikes of Steve McQueen. Although there is some instructional value here: as this photo demonstrates, the Honda 90 is veritable chick magnet. Who knew? Make a note of it, fellows.

Here's the latest in the Dreams and Nightmares series...as always, some dream cars and prototypes that set the style for their era, and others that make you want to spoon your eyes out. But they're all interesting in their own way...

Here’s a great little promotional film produced back in 1962 to introduce the Studebaker Avanti—features loads of neat car details and period charm. Plenty of early '60s flavor etc. It swings, man. Don your narrow necktie, get your Mad Men on and have a look.

More lore on a favorite marque among the hot rodding/drag racing set, Willys-Overland. Also very popular in Australia back in the day, for reasons not entirely within my view. Not that it wasn't a perfectly fine little automobile. Just, you know.

More lore on a favorite marque among the hot rodding/drag racing set, Willys-Overland. Also very popular in Australia back in the day, for reasons not entirely within my view. Not that it wasn't a perfectly fine little automobile. Just, you know.

Bill...just, you know?...Australia is a long way from anywhere...ya know?...supply and demand, and don't underestimate the cred that Willy's built (no pun intended) during the war years with their (GP) JEEP.

Bill...just, you know?...Australia is a long way from anywhere...ya know?...supply and demand, and don't underestimate the cred that Willy's built (no pun intended) during the war years with their (GP) JEEP.

But but but these cars predate the Jeep and WWII, And were very popular in Australia anyway. Is it the four-cylinder engine?

But but but these cars predate the Jeep and WWII, And were very popular in Australia anyway. Is it the four-cylinder engine?

It was probably a combination of price and durability at the time. Big cars were expensive. British cars couldn't handle the harsh conditions. The Willys was the size of a British car but with American quality.

It was probably a combination of price and durability at the time. Big cars were expensive. British cars couldn't handle the harsh conditions. The Willys was the size of a British car but with American quality.

Lots of good data 1933 through to 1940 on the disturbingly named site willysdownunder.webatu.com .Australians must have liked a car that weighed about 1 ton,and had a 134 cubic inch engine,becauseafter Holden Bodybuilders stopped making Willys during the war,they started making Holdens in 1948which weighed 1 ton and has a 132.5 cubic inch engine (a small 6) following several prototypes beingmade at GM in Michigan.

It is reported historically the light weight made them less likely to get bogged on our unmade roads than the heavier American cars,and easier to extract with human muscle when they did get stuck,in the days when more people lived in rural areas than today,but along with that, they had more power than the light but rather asthmatic British cars available then.

More yank tank stuff: The cars of Cuba. Really fascinating vehicles, kept on the road for over half a century now by hook or by crook. Some look a bit worse for the effort but hey, they're still running and driving.